Valve-operating mechanism



Sept. 16, 1930.

J. MARTIN 1,775,908

VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 18, 1929 INVENTOR. Jasc alzl/Zarzz'n.

/ ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 16, 1930 PATENT ()FFIE JOSEPH MARTIN, 01* LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA VALVE-OPERATING MECHANISM Application filed. November 18,829. Serial No. 407,950.

This invention relates particularly to valve control mechanism of thedrop valve type. Valves of this type may be conveniently used, forexample, in the bottom of laundry tubs or other fluid containers, whichin use require frequent draining.

An object of the invention is to provide a valve, and associated valvecontrolled mechanism, which may be quickly and accurately manipulated bythe operator to remove the fluid contents of a tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide latchmechanism forholding the valve in open position.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 isa top plan view of a tank or chamber provided with my control mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the valve inthe open poe1 sition Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fi 3, but showing thevalve in the closed position;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view showing the position of the controllevers when the valve is in open position; and

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view showing the relative positions of thecontrol levers when the valve is in closed position.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a chamber provided with abottom wall 11, side walls 12, and end walls 13, which together form acompartment for retaining water or other fluid. If desired, one sidewall of the chamber may be made removable to afford access to theworking parts. In the chamber shown the top is left open, and flanges10* are provided for securing it to the bottom of a larger receptacle.

The bottom wall 11 of the chamber 10 is provided with an outlet opening1 1, and a drop valve 15 is positioned within the chamber thereover andserves to prevent flow of liquid through the opening when lowered intoclosed position on the bottom of the chamber. The valve extendstransversely of the chamber 10 and is preferably of a rectangular shape,the longer dimension extending lengthwise of the chamber.

The valve comprises a bar 16; a metallic plate 17, preferably of greaterwidth than the bar 16; and a series of rubber gaskets 18, which areclamped to the plate 17 by means of suitable cleats or bolts. Thechamber 10 is provided at each end with angular guide bars 19, mountedin a vertical inclined position and adapted to engage the opposite endcorners along one side of the valve, to direct the valve to seatingalignment with the outlet 1 1. In cases where a closed chamoer isdesired, a top lid may be provided which may be hingedly mounted on thehinge supporting members 20.

Raising and lowering of the valve 15 is etfected by turning a rock shaft21 which errtends longitudinally of the chamber 10 and is journalled inthe opposite end walls 13, one end extending through a packing gland 21.Arms 22 are secured on the shaft 21; the arms being provided at theirouter ends with hooks 2?, which removably engage loops 2 1 secured tothe top plate 16 of the valve. A control arm, or lever, 25 is fixedlymounted on the end of the shaft 21 which projects through the packinggland 21". The lever 25 is provided on one end with a toot plate 28 andis provided at the opposite end with an adjustable counter-weight 27which serves to yieldingly hold the lever in position to seat the valve.

The lever 25, together with the arms in effect constitute alever forraising and lowering the valve, the point of -fulcrum being thelongitudinal axis oi the shaft 21. The weight of the valve itselfprobably would be sutnciient to cause it to seat without the use of acounter-weight: however, a counterweight affords a more positive action.If desired, a spring may be useu instead of a counter-weight, toyieldingly hold the lever in position to seat the valve. \Vhen seated,the weight of the fluid maintains the valve in that position.

A stop lug 28 is mounted in a boss 29, which is secured to the chamber10, means thus being afforded to limit upward movement of the valve 15.

Valve is, in this type of equipment, usually of considerable weight, andit is necessary to use latching means for retaining the valve in theopen position. F or this purpose I provide a latch-arm 30, pivotallymounted on the spindle 31 which is j ournalled in an end wall of thechamber .10. The spindle 31 is offset from the axis of the shaft 21, asshown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6 The latch-arm is provided at one end with acontrol handle 82,- and is provided at the other end withan adjustablecountenweight-33s If desired, a

spring may be substituted for this counter:

weight, A band or collar34, provided .with

a radially extending dog or tooth 35, is mounted fixedly on theprojecting end of the shaft 21 to move with lever 25. The collar may, ifdesired, be made as an inte ral part of the lever 25. i The latch-armgOis, in turn, provided with an inclined notch of a configuration similarto the tooth 35.

Asshown in Fig. 6, the tooth restson the top surface of the latch-arm 30at a point immediately overhanging the notch 36. The latch-arm is thusrendered movable by movement of-the lever 25, the movement of the i anlever ==causing a corresponding movement of the collar 34. and tooth 35..The' counterwvei'ght 83 yieldingly holds the latch-arm in position tobe moved by the lever. r. 1

"In the operation of openingf the valve, the

lever '25 is turned by depressing the foot plate 26 which, in turn,causes shaftQl to rotate ina counter-clockwise d rection. Inasmuch asthe latch-arm 30 turns about an axis offset from the axisof shaft 21, itfollows that in'opening the 'valvethe tooth35 and the complementalsurface 36 will travel along arcs of different rad i to a common pointof intersection where latching maybe effected.

At this point the toot-11,35 falls into the notch 36 and the valve isheld open. To close the valve the handle 32 is depressed to lower thelatch-arm 30 until the tooth35 clears the notch36', whereupon the shaft21 is free to turn under the action of the.counter-weight tolower thevalve into closed position.

7 ..While it is preferred to efilect latching by using a tooth and notchoftheform shown, it will be obvious that the collar 3 land thelatch-arm'80 could be provlded with numerous forms of complementalsurfaces adapted In combination: a gravity seated valve;

a seat for the valve a pivotally, mounted;

leverfor raising the valve; means operatively connecting said valve andlever; a

latch-arm pivotally mounted to turn about an, axis offset from the axisof the lever pivot; and a member movable with the lever complementary toa portion of the latch-arm adapted to-ieleasably engagesaid portion, Vwhenthe lever is moved to open thexvalve, V

to hold the valve open. 2. In combination; a valve; a seat for thevalve,' a' pivotally mounted lever for raise ing the valve;meansoperatively connecting said valve and lever; means for yielding'lyholding the lever in position to seat the valve; alatch-arm pivotallymounted to turn: aboutan axis offset from the axis of i the lever pivot;and a member movable" with the lever complementaryto a portionof thelatcharm adapted to-releasablyengage said portion, when the lever ismoved to open the valve, to hold the valve open.

3. In combination: a gravity seated valve;

a seat for the valve; a pivotally mounted lever for raising the valve;means operatively connecting said'valve and lever; a latch-arm pivotallyV mounted. to. turn about an axis offset fromzthe'axis-"of'the leverpivot, said latch-arm beingmovable by movement of the lever; and a'member movable-with the lever eomplementaryto a portion of theilatch-arm adapted to releasably. v

engage said portion, when the lever is moved to. open the valve, to holdthe valve open. 4. In combination: a gravity seated: valve a seat forthe valve; a pivotallyl mounted lever for raising the valve; meansoperaively connecting said valve and lever; a

latch-arm pivotally mounted tq tur no about. an axis offset from theaxis of the lever pivot;

ios

means for yieldingly holding theflatch arm 1n position to he movedbythe-lever; and a member movable with thelever-comple'mentary to aportion of the" latch-arm adapted to releasably engage said portion,when the lever 1s moved to open thevvalve, to hold the valve open.

5. In combination: agravity seated valve; a seat for the valve;apivotally mounted lever for raising theovalve; means operativelyconnecting said valve and lever; a

latch-arm pivotallymounted to turn about i an axis ofiset from theaxisof the lever pivot;

and a member movable withthe' lever complementary to a; portion. of thelatch-arm adapted torreleasably engage said portion,

when thelever is moved to open the valve,

to hold the valve open, said members adapt-' ed to be engaged, bymovement of rthe latch arm,to permit closing of the valve.

6. Valve mechanism comprising, in combination: :a valve; a seat for thevalve; a

shaft provided with an arm for raising and lowering the valve; a leverfor turningssaid 77aeos shaft; means for yieldingly holding the lever inposition to seat the valve; a tooth vided with an arm for raising andlowering said valve; a lever mounted on said shaft, said lever beingoperable toturn the shaft to raise and lower the valve; a toothextending from said shaft and mounted to turn with said lever; and alatch-arm pivotally mounted to turn about an axis offset from the axisof said shaft, said latch-arm being provided with a notch adapted toengage said tooth to hold the valve open.

8. In a device of the character set forth: a chamber having an outlet inits bottom; a valve for closing said outlet; a shaft journaled in thewalls of said chamber and pro vided with an arm for raising and loweringsaid valve; a lever mounted on said shaft, said lever being operable toturn the shaft to raise and lower the valve; means for yieldinglyholding the lever in position to close said outlet; a tooth extendingfrom said shaft and mounted to turn with said lever; and a latch-armpivotally mounted to turn about an axis offset from the axis of saidshaft, said latch-arm being provided with a notch adapted to e11- gagesaid tooth to hold the valve open.

9. In adevice of the character set forth; a chamber having an outlet inits bottom; a valve for closing said outlet; a shaft journaled in thewalls of said chamber and provided with an arm for raising and loweringsaid valve; a lever mounted on said shaft, said lever being operable toturn the shaft to raise and lower the valve; a tooth extending from saidshaft and mounted to turn with said lever; a latch-arm pivotally mountedto turn about an axis offset from the axis of said shaft, said latch-armbeing provided with a notch adapted to engage said tooth to hold thevalve open; and means for yieldingly holding the latch arm in positionto be moved by said lever.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 10th day of October, 1929.

JOSEPH MARTIN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,775,908. Granted September 16, 1930, to

JOSEPH MARTIN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 125, claim 5, for the word "engaged" read disengaged; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of October, A. D. 1930.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

